Statistics on infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia 2024 and distribution of cases
Recent official data from the Saudi Arabian health system revealed that 30,973 cases of infectious diseases were detected during 2024. This announcement comes as part of the transparency adopted by the Ministry of Health and the comprehensive epidemiological surveys conducted by its branches in various regions, with the aim of tracking health patterns and ensuring immediate preventive and therapeutic intervention to protect the community.
The efficiency of the epidemiological surveillance system in the Kingdom
These figures, approaching 31,000 cases, reflect the efficiency of the epidemiological surveillance system and the vigilance of medical personnel in the Kingdom. This accurate monitoring is a result of the efforts of the Health Transformation Program and the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which has placed great emphasis on health security and epidemic prevention. Health authorities, including the Public Health Authority (Weqaya), are working to enhance mechanisms for immediate electronic reporting, which contributes to a rapid response and control of any potential outbreaks before they spread.
The most widespread infectious diseases in 2024
Statistics showed a disparity in the types of diseases observed, with the most prevalent being ranked as follows:
- Hepatitis B: It tops the list nationally with 8,324 confirmed cases, which calls for continued awareness campaigns and early detection.
- Dengue fever: ranked second with 6,003 cases, which indicates ongoing efforts to combat disease vectors (mosquitoes), especially in coastal areas.
- Chickenpox: It came in third with 3,624 cases.
- Malta fever: 3,146 cases were recorded, highlighting the importance of monitoring livestock and dairy products.
Geographical distribution: Jeddah and Riyadh are in the lead
In terms of geographical distribution, major cities and densely populated areas accounted for the largest share of reports:
- Jeddah Governorate: ranked first with a total of 5,621 cases. This is attributed to its status as the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques, its high population density, and its active commercial activity.
- Riyadh: The capital came in second place by a small margin, recording 5,128 cases, which were dealt with according to the highest medical protocols.
- The Holy City: 3,398 cases were recorded, a number that reflects the scale of the challenge and the effort exerted in an area that witnesses the influx of millions of pilgrims and visitors throughout the year.
- The Eastern Region: It documented 3,465 cases and emerged as one of the most active regions in accurate epidemiological investigation.
Monitoring details in the Eastern Region
The Eastern Province provided a detailed model for monitoring, with cases encompassing a wide range of viral and bacterial diseases, including:
- 1,363 cases of hepatitis of all types (694 of type B, 470 antibodies to type C, and one rare case of type D).
- 1,110 cases of chickenpox and 583 cases of salmonella.
- Close monitoring of less common cases such as meningococcal disease (2 cases), measles (13 cases), and pertussis (81 cases).
Positive indicators and control efforts
In contrast, Hafr Al-Batin Governorate recorded the lowest number of cases in the Kingdom with only 16, while Jazan region recorded 1,405. It is worth noting that the data confirmed the detection of 2,988 cases of hepatitis C antibodies across the Kingdom, which strengthens the efforts of the National Program for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis and aligns with the World Health Organization's global targets to eliminate this disease by 2030.
